Building construction



June 21 1927.

Y 1;63 3,446 A. B. KLEINHANS' B'JILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1. 1925 J4 laf Patented June 2l, 1927.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR B. KLEINHANS, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application led March 1,1926. Serial No. 91,544.

The present invention relates to the conj vstruction of buildings and aims generally to improve the roof and its supporting means.

In the accompanying drawings I. have l illustrated as one embodiment of my invention, a greenhouse constructed in yaccordancel therewith, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of a part of a. greenhouse roof at the eaves, showing one form of astragal or sash bar and support therefor arranged -according to my invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 arerdetail sectional views Ataken on the lines 2 2 and 3-3 respec` a a slot 20 in the lug and alining holes in the tively of Fig.y 1, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of anastragal supporting lug conformable to` my invention. i

The construction illustrated in the'draw'v ings and to which my invention is adaptable preferably includes spaced metallic columns turn support longitudinal roof supports vor stringers 12 of any suitable shape, as for instance angle bars, as is common in such construction. The stringers 12-support -the spaced astragals or sash bars 13 which in turn supportk the sections or panels o f cover-V ings 14, illustrated hereinaspane's of glass. In constructing greenhouses according to iiiy invention I iind lit preferable to providecontinuous astragals extending from the ridge pole or uppermost Stringer, as

the case may be, tov the sills 15, thereby avoiding the necessity of separate eaves? plates, as is customary in such constructions. According to the present invention the astragals or sash bars .13 are of. channel shape, being preferably of inverted U-` y shaped cross section, and-are formed with laterally projecting side yflanges 16 which support the panels or panes 14.v These bars 13 preferably arefor'med of relatively heavy,

gauge sheet metal, vas fory instance sheetl steel. and are of suicient strength to support the weight of the glass panes7 l yet, thin and resilient enough to permit flexing inwardly of their sides to accommodate elongation of Y the glass panes due to increasesintempera.-

ture. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the glass panes in place upon the astragals 13, for instance' wire clips 17 as` described in my prior Patent No. 1,000,819, granted August 15,1911. A v y l p My invention contemplates the provision of means for so supporting the astragals 13 upon the `stringers 12 so as to permit of slight movementsl of the astragals relatively to/the stringers to accommodate expansion and contraction of the astragal ant panes of glass due to temperature changes. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the

astragals are supported upon the stringers 12 by means of supporting members or lugs 18, which'are preferably formed with a neck portion extending within the channel of the astragal and pivotally secured thereto by means of a relatively loose pivotal connection, as for instance a pin 19 passing throughl sions as to permit of movement ofthe astragals relatively to the structural framework ofthe building -in a direction: extending longitudinally of the astragal, but' to pre- .y

" vent movement of the astragals and panes in a direction transversely of their length. The supporting members or lugs 18 are preferably formed with shoulders 21 for engage-V A-ment with an edge of the angle iron or other vstringer12, and are preferably secured to the Stringer 12 by a -single fastening 22 asfor instance a Vrivet or bolt. This construction permits some yielding of the fastening" means while maintaining a secure connection. Preferably the astragals 13 are supported at eachstringer by lugs 18"thus se- -cured thereto, andfby similar lugs secured tov the lowei' sills 1,5, as is clearlyl shown in Fig. 1. l

VWhen the invention is appliedtofroof constructions, the supporting members or lugs 18'are preferably formed with a relatively long and .narrowvneck portion providing a clearance space on each side of the lug yand between the lower edge of theflange f1.6 of the astragal 13 and the'shouldcr' 23 of theV lug.

'l`herebyrelative movement `is ioo allowed for, -and the freejpassagc of drops" of .water which may collect upon the lower face of the astragal yflange due to condensa-- tion or4 slight leaks in the roof permitted. Thus my improved Vconstruction allows thev drops of water to flow ydown the under sides v Yof the flanges 16 to the sidesrof the house; `whereas if dripped at the lugs it would drip at points within the greenhouse'and would soon kill plants which might happen to be Vadaptable to the construction of .houses -or other glazed structures, it is also .highly adaptablezto the construction of other types oit buildings and roofs, the outer `surface' of which may be covered With Vcomparatively largeV panels or coverings. vHence, although I have referredl to such placed thereunder. Furthermore, lthis construction prevents the collection of drops of Water upon the lugs 18 and Stringer l2 which would quickly corrode and thus weaken the structure.

The advantages of my invention are,`its.

ycracking.; of putty which would otherwise cause leaks. Furthermore, the particular vtype ot supporting lug shown 'facilitates the verection and cheapensl-the cost of construetion oit structures et this type.

`Although my invention is particularly greenooverings iii the claims as covering panels or. panes for the sake of simplicity, it is to be undestood that any suitable type of rigid7 or semi-rigid Wall or vroot` covering iscontemplated.

Obviously Vmy invention is not restricted to the details herein shown anddescribed.

Vihat I, claim is:

l. In a building structure, in combina` tionl with the structural framework including string-ers vof' covering panels or panes, astragals having acliannel in its under side yco'.nstructed of resilient material for sup- I. porting said panesv and adapted' to YHex lat- .the panes,

astragals romvthe vstringers to permito'f `slight movements thereof bodily .in a longitudinal direction, said supporting means .'astragals.

erally to accommodate slightexpansion of means for supporting` said including lugs connecting said stringere and 2.1ln a building` structure, iii combination with the structural framework including stringere, ot astragals loosely supported upon said stringers to permit of slight movemont thercol bodily in a longitudinal direc-L tion, a plurality of covering panelsor panes,

said astragals being constructed of relatively Vflexible sheet metal of 'channel form` for sup? Vporting the panes and the sides of said astragals being capable of flexing inwardly to accommodate the expansion of the panes V due to increase in temperature, the arrangement being such that said astragals and supported panes are capable ofv slight move-v ments as a unit upon the substructure.

3. In a building structure in combination with the structural framework influding striiigers, of covering nanels' or panes, channel shaped astragals constructed et resilient materiall adapted to support a plurality of panes, and accommodate slight ex pansioii tliereoii, means for supporting Y asti'agals trom Asaid stringers io pc" slight movements of said astragals bodily in a longitudinal direction thereof7 said supportingvmeans including lugs secured said stiingeis, and means secured to said astra gals having a relatively looseA coni'iectionwith said lugs. Y

Ll. In a-building structure, in combination. With the structural. 'framework ini ludii stringers, of covering panels or panes nel shaped astragals constructed oi" from said stringers'to' permit oi slight movements oi said astragals bodily infalongi* tudinal direction thereof due tortemperatiue changes, said supporting means including lugs secured to said stringere, .said lugs be ing *shouldered for engagement over the edge oit'a Stringer, and a ysingle 'fastening means for 'fastening each lug to tl'ie'siipporting Stringer. y 't 5. In a roofv construction, in combination with root supporting members,A ay root including covering elements, spacing rmembers for sqacin and su) ortinea 'liiralitv 'of Y :n J

covering elements lmeansv for sun aortins' b 7 l l t;

said spacing members from said supporting members in spaced relation thereto,` por# tion o said'supportingmeans bei g spaced from said spacing members whereby to prol vide lor Va free' passage of drops ot Water collected uponthefundor side" oi:- said spac ing members.

6'. VIn a 'rooi" construction for greenhouses `or otherfglazed structures, in combination vkWith roo'l supporting stringers, of a root` in- -clud'ing glass panesand' channel astr'ag'als tor spacing 'and suuportingrowsof vglass panes, means tor supporting sai'd astragals from said stringere Vand in spacedrelatiou thereto, said supporting ineans'iiicluding a relatively long neck portion adapted to extend AWithin tlie'channel -and to'support theV astragal "Witli' the loivei" edges' thereof spaced. from the .body of the, said supporting means a distance sufficient to provide for the freepassage lotdrops of Watercollected upon the under side ot saidy astragal.

7. Inra .greenhouse or" other glazed structure, means tor supporting. 1 an astragal ftro'm roof supporting members orstringere,V comprisinga member having a body' portion and anextendingV astragal engaging portionl` thebody portion oisaid supporting member beingL shouldered for engagement lover an edge ofthe'stringer, and being also formed With an opening or'the reception of rie n single fastening means for connecting said supporting member to said stringer.

8. In a greenhouse or other glazed construction means for supporting a channel shaped astragal from roof supporting members or st'ringers, comprising a lug having a body portion, and a neck portion adaptedv to extend into the channel of said astragahthe neck portion being formed with a slightly elongated opening adapted to loosely receive a securing element carried by said astragal, the body portion of said ulug being shouldered for engagement over an edge of the Stringer, and being also formedwith an opening for the reception of a single fasteningmeans, whereby said single fastening means provides a secure connection Vbetween said supporting member and said Stringer.

9. In a greenhouse or like structure, a framework including spaced side columns and rafters connected thereto, stringers connecting said rafters and sills connecting said columns and positioned below the point of connection of the rafters and columns, a roof and wall Covering comprisino' rows of glass panes, channel .shaped metallic astragals extending across said stringers and downwardly to said sills for supporting said rows of glass panes, the side walls of said astragals being resilient to yield inwardly to accommodate expansion of the glass panes due to increases in temperature, and means for supporting said astragals in spaced relation to said stringers and sills to provide an unobstructed passage for water collected on the inner lower face of the astragal and permitting it to drainfrom 10. In a greenhouse or likevstructure, a framework including spaced side columns and rafters connected thereto, stringers connecting said rafters and lsills connecting said columns vand positioned below the point of connection of thek rafters and columns, a roof and wall covering comprising roWs of glass panes, metallic astragals having a channel formed in the under side and laterally extending flanges for supportin the rows of glass panes, said astragals an supported panes extending across said stringers and downwardly to said sills thus providinvf a continuous glazed covering between sai astragals, and means for supporting said astragals in spaced relation to saidV stringereV and sills including a reduced neckl portion extending within the channel of said astragal and connected thereto, thus leavin@ the ylower faces of the lateral anges ofthe astragals unobstructed, v thereby to provide a free passage for water collected on the under side ofthe astragal and permitting it to drain from the lower end thereof.

1l. In a roof structure for building and the like, in combination with V'a support or Stringer, of an astragal having a chamber in the under side, a fastening element engaging said support and having a portion extending into said chamber, and means connecting said fastening element and astragal adapted to permit slight movement of the astragal in a direction longitudinally of its length but to prevent movement thereof relatively to the support in a transverse direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

`AR'II-IUR B. KLEINHANS. 

